Many apologies to everyone who kindly welcomed me. I apologise profusely for not replying for so long; it was inadvertent stupidity, not a dose of the sulks, I promise you!JB, thanks in particular for the Wahlenbergia ID.

Interest in living things implies interest in plants! And I can tell you that some of those tiny, but beautiful gems in near-desert conditions like Namaqualand/Bushmanland really clutch at my heartstrings!

[quote]Great photo of the Zaluzianskya (purple Drumsticks) Glad you liked. Do you know the Vaalputs area? After rain it is hair raising! Great diversity, but scattered thinly over desolation. A friend who arrived with me remarked as we left the vehicles: "Die stilte slaan 'n mens soos 'n knal!"We agreed that we never had been in a place too silent for us.

arks wrote:Here are a few more of my Kgalagadi mystery plants and flowers from March 2010. Any help with ID will be most appreciated!

Many thanks for any help with these!

Not many thanks due Arks! I am sorry to offer mainly handwaving and excuses (mumble... not a botanist...mumble). But maybe I can prod someone else into correcting me!

OK, fwiw: 1 is a legume hosting some Pyrrhocorid bugs. (Surprise!!!)2. Is a member of the Cucurbitaceae, some sort of wild melon or cumber. Could be a variety of Tsamma for all I know, without a clear idea of scale.3. Dunno. Some kind of acacia?4. Is an obvious Asparagus, but we have about 20 spp. They used to be split into about four genera, but now they all are Asparagus again. Notice the "katdoring" thorns, though not all spp are thorny.5.Emphatically Solanaceous. Looks like one of the Solanum spp widely referred to as "Apple of Sodom". They generally are poisonous and bitter. Some are not poisonous when very ripe, but I am not inclined to experiment.